Buy GoodStuff for Random Acts of Kindness Day

February 17th, 2016

Random Acts of Kindness Day is Feb 17th. However all throughout the year, we come across heart-felt videos, photos & stories of people who go above & beyond to help those in need. Now for majority of us, this can be overwhelming. We may not think that we have enough energy, goodness or time to go out and do great things. The truth is, its not the size of your giving that matters – but the quality. Our spokesperson, Naomi Cowan – has handpicked a few everyday products & brands you can feel good about purchasing. Thankfully, there are a significant number of companies & brands who support social causes & charitable organizations.

No worries if you’re not the next Bill Gates. You can make a difference with the everyday products you buy. Here’s Naomi’s picks for this week.

Build-a-Bear’s Share Your Heart campaign with Save the Children.

A perfect gift for your favourite niece, nephew or younger cousin. Or perhaps you’ve got a secret growing collection of Build-A-Bears at home (we won’t judge). We personally like giving Build-A-Bears at baby showers. Now for a limited time, the Care Bears Collection has landed at Build-A-Bear Workshops across Canada. While you’re grabbing a new snuggle buddy, you have the opportunity to help build kids’ resilience following disasters or trauma. This season, Build-A-Bear is teaming up with Save the Children’s Journey of Hope program. As part of the Share Your Heart campaign with Save the Children, now through March 2, you can purchase a satin purple heart for $1.00 that will be donated to Save the Children. Even better, you also have the opportunity to create a message of encouragement to send to kids in the program.

The Honest Co found at Indigo

Considering that everything we eat, touch and breathe causes cancer, it can be tough to make wise decisions when it comes to everyday household products & personal care. That’s why we recommend The Honest Co. simply because they keep it simple. The brands ethos gives customers a “hoenzstly free” guarantee which states that “The Honest Company’s products are made without health-compromising chemicals or compounds.”

Developed by parents, for parents – The honest company’s products are great for anyone interested in making their home environment just a little bit more free.

DAVIDS TEA & ME-TO-WE – Giving clean water

DAVID’sTEA and ME to WE have partnered up on an exciting line of products, including an exclusive new “ME to WE” tea and a co-branded travel mug (our pick). Each purchase will go towards ME to WE’s efforts in Kenya to provide clean drinking water in developing communities in Kenya. Considering that Keny a is one of the biggest tea producing countries in the world, its only natural that Free the Children would want to pay it forward. Your purchase of these items goes directly towards building wells, giving access to clean drinking water and improved sanitation to these communities. We like it!

Tea for two, Water for all.

WORLD VISION ARTISAN GIFTS

If you’re an avid gift giver, always on the hunt for something unique & one-of-a-kind then check out World Vision’s Artisan Gift shop. The global non-profit organization has developed a fun way for you to support the various initiatives they lead. When you visit worldvision.ca/gifts you’ll see products created by artisans from communities across the world. Proceeds/funds raised from the artisan gifts help artisans earn a sustainable living plus help support World Vision most needed projects which include: water, Syrian crisis fund, Feed Hungry Canadian family among others. We even recommend that you pick up a few of these items for your home! All donors get a tax receipt for their donation. Visit worldvision.ca/gifts to check out the full line-up. Here’s our picks.

ARCTIC ZONE

Who woud think that purchasing insulated products would make a difference? Canadian company California Innovations/Arctic Zone products can be found across the country in stores such as Costco & Walmart. Their products by their very nature support a green lifestyle – by reducing waste from takeout and promoting an overall healthier lifestyle. Beyond promoting a Green Lifestyle, California Innovations/Arctic Zone donates product to important causes. Most recently donating lunch bags to The Winchester Public School in Toronto, a school with incoming Syrian Refugees, and also making their annual donation to the Halton Children’s Aid Society | Children’s Aid Foundation. The company matches dollars towards any employee-driven charitable venture at 100%, including most recent donations to the Daily Bread Food Bank and the Colorectal Cancer Association of Canada. Need we say more? Check out a few of their products that you can pick-up at Walmart or Costco.